Genocide Is All They Have

By now it should be clear that Israel's genocidal campaign in Gaza was not a spur of the moment response to the October 7 attack by Hamas. It has been planned for a long time, just waiting for the opportune moment to spring. The same goes for the relentless attacks on Lebanon and now Syria. Iran may be next, a fantasy that has been in the works for at least since Barack Obama was president.

What has been a surprise for most Americans is the exuberant complicity of the U.S. government in this carnage. It shouldn't be. Even before there was such a thing as the United States of America settlers in the "New World" were massacring the people who lived on both the northern and southern continents. Those that weren't massacred were forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to "reservations" – large concentration camps in remote and westward areas of the newly claimed land.

Then came the empire. Historians disagree on when the U.S. empire began. It could have been the war against Mexico from 1846 to 1848, where Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California were "acquired" along with parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. Or maybe it was the Spanish American War, where we gained the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. As late-comers in World War I we established our presence in Europe, effectively sealing the "victory" Britain and France. This was followed by overthrows of democratically elected governments in Central and South America, interrupted by World War II, which we were the dominant victors in both the European and Pacific theaters.

After World War II we had invasions of choice in Korea and Vietnam, the first ending in stalemate and the second in humiliating defeat. I was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war, managed to avoid it by enlisting to get a school and getting sent to Germany, now our "ally."

Since then there have been invasions of tiny Panama, the postage-size island of Grenada, Iraq – twice, and Afghanistan. Mostly what our foreign "policy" establishment has been involved in is subversion, assassination, coup d'état sponsorship, funding of militias and guerrilla forces, economic blockades and sanctions, such as with Cuba.

Then there was Israel. When the nation state of Israel was created in 1948 it was a British handover, with United Nations support following World War II. The land of Palestine was not Britain’s to give, but they gave it anyway, a hubris that has been its hallmark characteristic for centuries. And soon in for a reaping.

For some strange reason it became the purview of the United States of America to step in as the guarantor of Israel's presence as a colonial settlement in the Southern Levant of the eastern Mediterranean. Many billions of dollars and vast supplies of armaments have been given to the government of Israel over the years, all for free, paid for by U.S. taxpayers, who have been largely ignorant of the largesse they have provided. Whatever brutality, destruction and land theft committed by Israel has been virtually unquestioned by U.S. "leaders" for the duration of the takeover.

We can surmise what the strange reason is. The U.S. is an empire. An empire possesses or controls other countries. Israel is indirectly controlled by the U.S. through weaponry and money. Israel uses that money and weaponry to control the region, and as a side benefit gets to steal land and resources. The Mideast is resource rich, especially in oil, and is strategic in establishing hegemony over Africa, southern and eastern Europe, and the far East.

Or so it seems. That may have been how the plan was supposed to work, but the best laid schemes o’ mice an' men gang aft agley, an' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, for promis'd joy! Empires die, some quickly, some not-so-quickly. Ours will be over very soon. Some observers, like Noam Chomsky, believe it already is. Others, like University of Wisconsin professor Alfred McCoy and journalist Chris Hedges, believe it will be soon. Eminent economist Richard Wolf  also describes the end of the U.S. empire.

The end of the U.S. empire, whether already or soon, is for two reasons: stupidity and timing. The stupidity is plain for all to see, described in nauseating detail on a daily basis in worldwide news. I have written about it ad absurdum in this blog for a couple of decades. No need to run it into the ground again.

The other reason is timing. The climate crisis, while horrendously bad already, is about to get worse. Scientist after scientist are warning of impending planetary catastrophe in the very near future, and for the rest of the lives of anyone now alive, and well into the future. No need to run that into the ground here either. The information is plentiful.

In tandem with climate catastrophe is the end of Capitalism. It has run its course. It is a system that started roughly two centuries ago with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. It has befouled the planet, destroyed many millions of lives, and impoverished the vast majority of humans who have lived on Earth since it began. Because of the imperative that economic systems get bigger and bigger, Capitalism creates its own demise, outgrowing both the planet and itself. Karl Marx predicted this a century and a half ago, but capitalists were too busy laughing all the way to the bank. They won’t be laughing so heartily when it collapses.

With the collapse of Capitalism comes the collapse of the U.S. weapons industry – the military- industrial complex. Indeed, it can be truthfully said that the free flow of weapons to Israel has kept the weapons industry alive, and by extension the weapons industry has kept the U.S. economy alive. No more weapons industry means no more weapons.

In this context, how fares Israel? Without unlimited and unquestioned aid from the U.S., what does a settler colonial country do? I make no predictions, but things will be different. The demise of Capitalism also bodes ill for Israel, since it depends on foreign trade to provide the goods and money that keep the country functioning. Just as Israel requires U.S. funding and weapons to exist, it also needs economic interaction with the rest of the industrial world. If Capitalism goes bust foreign money and goods no longer arrive to keep the country going. Almost needless to say, we won't be hearing anything about crypto-currency, the big nothing hype of virtual money, or Ponzi money.

This all is likely well-known to both Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies. It may be why the genocide in Gaza and now Lebanon (and who's next?) is proceeding at such a feverish pace. Get it done before it is too late. It is a loser's endeavor, but from the perspective of empire, it is all they have. It won't be for much longer. Should Donald Trump actually become president again – not so certain, given his mental and physical health – collapse will happen even sooner.

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Here's a song for the end of the empire. Here's another. Can't forget John Prine. Cream. The Doors. Chuck Mangione. I saw him for free in 1974, one of the best concerts I ever went to. I gave a presentation on freedom in an economics seminar the following day, based on what I learned from his performance. It worked.

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Surviving members of the Grateful Dead were honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. last night. Genocide Joe pointed to himself as a "Deadhead" in a short video. Jerry Garcia must be rolling over in his grave.  For the record, a Deadhead is someone who follows the band on tour. Jerry Garcia died in 1995, ending the band and thus all touring. Genocide Joe never followed the band on tour, and likely never went to even one concert. He is a dead head, though. Not the same as a Deadhead.

Another reason why Jerry Garcia might be rolling over in his grave is the array of celebrities doing cameo performances of the band's songs. The worst was Sturgill Simpson doing Ripple, followed closely by Dave Matthews doing Not Fade Away. They should have let Susan Tedeschi and her husband Derek Trucks do all the songs by themselves. They had the feel. 

Jerry's daughter looks just like him. Same smile too.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also in attendance, pleased with himself, grooving with the Dead vibes. He has stated publicly that he is a Jew first and an American second. He approved Israel's bombing of aid trucks in Gaza. Maybe he was wearing a tie-dye when he gave the go-ahead for bombing those who provide food, medicine and other humanitarian aid. 

Thankfully, Jerry Garcia was spared of the indignity of rolling over in his grave by being cremated, with his ashes poured into the Ganges River in India and in the San Francisco Bay. This calls for a song. Alternate version.

Here's the real Grateful Dead doing Not Fade Away. See if you can find Genocide Joe in the audience, maybe tossing a balloon or beachball. He would be wearing a suit. Maybe even a tux. Here's the real Grateful Dead doing Ripple. This brief synopsis was played at the Kennedy Center extravaganza. It included remarks by Molly Tuttle and Nora Jones. Bill Walton can be seen in the audience in one short snippet.
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R.I.P. Zakir Hussain. Here's a sample. I saw him perform twice. Absolutely mesmerizing.

R.I.P Michael Brewer. Here's a sample. Here's another. Here's Brewer and Shipley's only hit song covered on the Lawrence Welk Show. Lawrence Welk thought it was a spiritual because it mentions Jesus, purported savior of mankind. Here's the original. For the unaware, to be one toke over the line is to have imbibed slightly too much cannabis sativa. This is my favorite Brewer & Shipley song, a rendition of the Jim Pepper original. Here's the complete album of Rural Space.
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I sent a message to Genocide Joe recently, suggesting he resign for the good of the planet: 

To: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/share/
From: Me

Date: December 7, 2024

Subject: Foreign Policy

Hello Mr. Biden

You have proven yourself to be a man without honor in your zealous sponsorship of the genocide in Gaza, now Lebanon, and who knows next. The only honorable act available to you now is to resign from office immediately and let your vice president fulfill the duties of president for the remainder of your term. She will likely continue the genocidal campaign in the southern Levant, but perhaps not as unflinchingly and remorselessly as you have. She couldn't do any worse.

I voted for you in 2020, not eagerly, but considering the alternative, the only sensible choice. In 2016 I even campaigned for Hillary Clinton, walking an entire "turf" by myself, not a wise thing at my age. I am two years younger than you, and served three years in the U.S. Army while you were staking out your meaningless political career.

My first vote for president was for Hubert Humphrey in 1968, also my first for the lesser of two evils. I have never voted for a "Republican" for president, though I did once for mayor of Honolulu, Frank Fasi, a renegade "Democrat." C'est la vie. We do what we can. You could have done what you could in preventing genocide in Gaza and elsewhere, but instead chose the soulless politician option. I remember some of your past soullessness, Clarence Thomas, the 1994 crime bill, Iraq, Afghanistan, continuation of Trump's border crimes and tariffs. Yikes! What an unlife! You can rescue at least a tidbit of honor by resigning. A little honor could go a long way. It might do some good.

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Update, December 26: This feature in Salon gives a pretty good rundown on the psychology of Trump supporters.  This, from Slate, reveals some of the stupidity of the Cold War. Meanwhile, Americans are tuning out on political news. 

R.I.P. Jimmy Carter. There are many remembrances of the great things he did. I have one no one is mentioning. He appointed John Froines, Chicago Seven defendant, to head the toxic chemicals division of the Occupation Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). This shows much about his character and beliefs. For an overview of Carter's presidency, click here. Or, you can read about it here. In 1976, fell for a TV ad by fake labor activist Lyndon LaRouche, who was actually a "right wing" zealot. C'est la vie. I voted for environmentalist, biologist and author Barry Commoner for president in 1980. I still believe he was the best candidate.

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Update, January 5, 2025: 

José Andrés, founder of the World Central Kitchen, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Genocide Joe yesterday. It would have been much more honorable if he had refused the award, given the carnage in Gaza has been sponsored thoroughly, enthusiastically and unscrupulously by Joe Biden and his henchpersons. Among the tens of thousands of people killed indiscriminately in the butchery were seven World Central Kitchen aid workers on April 1 of last year, and three more in November. It seems fame, awards and celebrity are drugs that render all other concerns meaningless, even when it comes to being flattered by Genocide Joe.

Then there's this. Noam Chomsky again on why we can't have bot Capitalism and Democracy.

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Update, January 12:

Genocide Joe has bestowed another Presidential Medal of Freedom, this time to the Pope, supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church, head of state of the sovereign state of Vatican City, and apostolic successor to St. Peter, to whom the supposed savior of mankind, Jesus, gave the keys to "Heaven" and pronounced him the rock upon which the Church was built. But woo, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Genocide Joe! With distinction! Now that's an honor he will surely treasure above all others. And he was given the honor by phone. How American, to phone it in.

In times past, at least one pope sold indulgences, forgiveness of sins. Pope Francis is no fan of the genocide in Gaza, so he likely is displeased with Catholic genocidist Joe Biden. Attempting to pay the pope for forgiveness wouldn't yield a positive result, but a Presidential Medal of Freedom might. With distinction, maybe more forgiveness. I used to identify as Catholic, and silliness like forgiveness of sins is part of the belief system. Joe Biden isn't a very bright guy, so belief plus dumbness can make for some ridiculous gestures. 

Biden still has eight days left in office. He has much more to accomplish. How about a Presidential Medal of Freedom for fellow genocidist Benjamin Netanyahu? Genocide Joe has already expressed his great affection and support for "Bibi," giving him billions of dollars in money and weaponry. Netanyahu, under indictment in Israel for fraud and by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, could add the award from GJ to his treasure trove of dishonors. 

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Among my many experiences in life is having worked in Pacific Palisades, California. I had driven to LA in early 1968 with a high school friend, a last fling, sort of, before going into the Army. Another high school friend was already out there, and we found jobs at a high-end mini-restaurant called The Hot Dog Show, on Sunset Boulevard. It has long been closed, and the building likely razed for redevelopment. Whatever replaced it has now burned down, along with the shopping center across the street and all of the adjoining neighborhood.

It is eery, sitting here in Madison, Wisconsin, knowing the the area where I worked so happily is gone. There were forest fires in the nearby mountains even then, but they were always kept under control. Strange, though, for me, who grew up in the flatlands of Illinois, seeing forest fires as routine. 

The Palisades seemed tenuous even then, with luxury houses built to the edge of crumbling cliffs that ran along the Pacific Coast Highway. The houses were incredibly lavish and expensive, similar to nearby Brentwood. I used to hitchhike in those days, and became familiar with the topography, the people, and the wealth. I got picked up by people driving Jaguars, Mercedeses, Ferraris and the like. I never felt resentment or jealousy towards these wealthy people. I was in awe, and thankful for the rides. 

And, it almost goes without saying, compassion for all the suffering, death and destruction. Somewhere and someone else will be next. Climate change is here, and we are all in the same boat, all vulnerable to the next shock. We should be having a winter in Wisconsin, but aren't having much of one. We will pay for it when the weather gets warm.

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The PBS Wisconsin program Here and Now interviewed  University of Wisconsin sociology professor Chad Alan Goldberg about his research on populism last Friday. The main conclusion of his research is that Trump voters are motivated by status threat, that "demographic changes in American society, cultural changes in American society have threatened the status of dominant groups in our society and that that is what’s driving support for Mr. Trump." In other words, the superior status that they feel belongs to them, and that other groups that they feel are inferior are threatening their entitlement to superiority. Or, put simply, "white" supremacy. Even more simply, Trump supporters are bigots, xenophobes and racists, as we long suspected.

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Update, January 22: Over 20,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned in the war in Gaza. Israel's plan, with U.S. bombs, ammunition and money, is to flatten Gaza.

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Update, January 26: Israel is blocking 11 American doctors and nurses from leaving Gaza. One obvious reason why they are being held hostage is that when they get back home, they talk. Another reason, I suspect, is that keeping them in Gaza increases the opportunities for Israeli forces to kill them.

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R.I.P. Garth Hudson. I listened to this song many times during my indenture in the U.S. Army. Garth Hudson on the accordion just screams.